Lamia al-Hariri

Lamia al Hariri (Arabic: لمياء الحريري‎) is Syria's former charge d'affaires in the Republic of Cyprus who defected to Qatar in July 2012.[1][2]

Lamia al Hariri
Born
Lamia al Hariri

Hama
NationalitySyrian
OccupationDiplomat
Parent(s)Mohammad Al Hariri (father)
RelativesFarouk al Shaara (uncle)

Early life

Hariri was born in Hama but originally from the province of Daraa.[3] She is the daughter of the retired major general Mohammad Al Hariri, a former deputy interior minister. She is also the niece of Syrian vice-President Farouk al Shaara.[3]

Career and defection

Hariri was appointed to Nicosia as Syrian charge d'affaires in November 2010.[4][5] Her defection was reported by Al Jazeera on 24 July 2012.[6] Two members of the opposition Syrian National Council (SNC) confirmed her defection on 25 July 2012.[7] Al Arabiya reported that she joined the opposition. She reportedly went to Qatar and she is still there.[1] On 25 July 2012, her husband Abdelatif al-Dabbagh, former Syrian ambassador to the United Arab Emirates, also defected to Qatar and joined his wife, Lamia al Hariri.[3] His defection was also confirmed by SNC spokesman Mohammad Sarmini.[8]

On 26 July 2012, SANA issued a statement of Syria Foreign Ministry, stating that Lamia al Hariri was not an ambassador, but a diplomat working at the Syrian Embassy in Cyprus and that her mission was to manage the Embassy's affairs until an ambassador or charge d'affaires is appointed.[9]

Her defection was significant, since it was the second defection of a Syrian diplomat in July 2012 after that of Nawaf al Fares.[10]

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References
  1. "Syrian Ambassador to Cyprus Joins Opposition". The Journal of Turkish Weekly. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 27 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  2. "Syrian diplomats 'defect' as Aleppo fighting worsens". BBC. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 26 July 2012.
  3. "Syria's ambassador to the UAE defects, joins his defected wife in Qatar: sources". Al Arabiya. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  4. "Syrian Chargé d'Affaires in Nicosia defects". Cyprus Mail. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 25 September 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  5. "Syria envoy to Cyprus defects". Fagamusta Gazette. 24 July 2012. Archived from the original on 19 October 2017. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  6. "Syria envoy to Cyprus defects, joins opposition, as clashes break out in Aleppo". Haaretz. DPA. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  7. "Syrian envoy to Cyprus defects to Qatar: SNC". MSNBC. Reuters. 25 July 2012. Archived from the original on 4 January 2013. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  8. "Syrian ambassadors to Emirates, Cyprus defect". Chicago Tribune. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  9. "Foreign Ministry: Ambassador al-Dabbagh Was off Duty in Abu Dhabi since June 4th" (Press Release). SANA. 26 July 2012. Retrieved 27 July 2012.
  10. "Syrian envoy to Cyprus defects". Al Jazeera. 25 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
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